The One Day Bike Tour

Too many people say to me “One day I’md like to do a big journey by bike. But I don’t have the time / money / fitness / ‘insert lame excuse of your choice here’.”

One day? Rubbish!

What most people really need is not the time or a winning lottery ticket. The thing that most people in this position need is a kick up the backside! A push, a prod, that tiny little bit of momentum to get them started, to realise that a big bike journey is achievable, great fun, and will add value to their lives not waste their precious time.

“One day…” is just an excuse.

So today I am suggesting that anyone who is procrastinating and dithering about committing to a bike tour should do a one day bike journey. And do it as soon as you can, not “one day”… The concept is simple:

All you need to do is jump on a train with your bike early one morning. Choose a station, almost at random, that’s about 50 miles away from your home. I say 50 miles because it’s a distance long enough to be challenging, but achievable in one day by most people, even if you are pretty unfit.

Buy a single ticket. And when you arrive at your destination hop on your bike and start cycling homewards.

Within the day ahead of you will lie most of the challenges, hurdles and rewards of even a multi-year epic.

You will have to navigate your way. You’ll become insanely hungry and relish the joy of stopping at a cafe and stuffing your face with guilt-free cakes. You will see things you have never seen before. If you travel slowly and with a smile on your face then most likely you will meet new people, have interesting chats, and learn something new.

And when you eventually make it back to your front door you will be tired, aching, hungry, but you will also be content. You will have had an interesting and rewarding day. And – I sincerely hope – you will have realised that you are capable of much more. You may have broken the inertia and be ready to commit to a bigger adventure.

Good luck!

Consider also trying Travelling With A One Way Ticket, Using your Weekend or going on a Tiny Bike Ride…

This post first appeared on the Bicycle Travel Network.

13 Comments

Gary 22/05/2011 at 07:01

Hi Al. I follow your blog and twitter and I’ve read your around the books, but this is the first time I’ve been able to say I have done what Al has done. I do the train and ride home quite often. I live in near Chichester in Sussex so if I head inland I get to ride over the Downs which I love.
Tom Riley 22/05/2011 at 09:05

In the words of Nike… “JUST DO IT”
Stuart Doyle 22/05/2011 at 15:58

As a man sitting in Athens ready to cycle home to Edinburgh tomorrow I have to agree, 2 months off work about to have the time of my life yeah I agree een for a day get out and do it!!!!
- Al Humphreys 26/05/2011 at 09:09
  
  Good luck Stuart!
- Al Humphreys 26/05/2011 at 09:10
  
  :-)
Will Hawkins 23/05/2011 at 06:47

It’s very true. Getting off one’s backside is the hardest thing to do. Once you’ve done that, anything is achievable.
jamehand 24/05/2011 at 13:03

Stop giving me so many good ideas, please!
Hanna MI Jakobson 28/05/2011 at 22:44

I am one of the lucky ones who have gone from doing day bike tours to doing long distance bike touring. You are right, every day I meet someone new and learn something new, also while being constantly and insanely hungry. Now in Peru and loving it.

Keep sending out all that bike love.
DPeach 30/05/2011 at 20:01

I recently did my first big bike ride. I had not thought of calling it a tour, but this post helps me see that I can justifiably call it that. I rode to a town about 35 miles away and then came back. Since I currently live in a country that has train service, I will determine to make my next trip like you suggest. I can take a train one way and come back home by bike. I love the idea!
Jasmine Reese 05/06/2011 at 06:14

I am having a hard time finding a trainer to train me for the longest ride of my life. I am a complete novice, and the people in my area are either too busy or chauvinistic pigs who don’t think women should ride a bike as an athlete. Any advice? I really need to start training ASAP. I bike across America in less than a year.
- Al Humphreys 07/06/2011 at 09:10
  
  Hi Jasmine,
  My top tip is to ignore all the doubters and just get on your bike and ride!
  Start small, ride a little further and a little faster each time you go out. Do this 3 or 4 times a week and by the time your journey begins you should easily be able to manage 50 miles a day…
  Also have a look at this US-based site – http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/
  Al
Raph Taylor 10/06/2011 at 20:43

I didn’t do the one-way train ride thing, but did take one of my students (with learning disabilities) on a 30 mile ride from Selby to York and back last week. A cracking ride – he enjoyed it, and I got to try out my new bike: loaded up a couple of panniers just to see how it rode.

First of many day tours, which will lead on to longer ones…
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